Trip from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

75 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 44m ★

6 AM

1h 52m

8 AM

2h 8m

10 AM

1h 58m

12 PM

1h 56m

3 PM

1h 59m

5 PM

2h 8m

8 PM

1h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Crill Avenue, FL 207, FL 312 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on Crill Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.25 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.5 miles from Saint Augustine Beach, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 75 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (39%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Crill Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 42.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near A1A Beach Boulevard.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (A1A Beach Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (A1A Beach Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.3 miles (FL 207): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | A1A Beach Boulevard

Turn right onto A1A Beach Boulevard

Navigation decision point

4

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | A1A Beach Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork onto A1A Beach Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4

5.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | FL 207

Turn left onto FL 207

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3

31 mi into trip | ~47m in | FL 20 / 9th Street

Turn left onto FL 20 / 9th Street

Navigation decision point

3

75 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | CR 329 / South Main Street

Turn left onto CR 329 / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Crill Avenue	42.6 mi	1h
FL 207	23.1 mi	32m
FL 312	3.6 mi	6m
US 17	2.7 mi	5m
A1A Beach Boulevard	1.6 mi	2m
East University Avenue	1.1 mi	2m
9th Street	0.4 mi	1m
South Main Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Crill Avenue — 42.6 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Augustine Beach, FL and Gainesville, FL.

1

Start on 9th Street

482 ft · 23 sec · 9th Street

2

Turn right onto A1A Beach Boulevard

1.3 mi · 2 min · A1A Beach Boulevard

3

Keep slight left at fork onto A1A Beach Boulevard

0.3 mi · 28 sec · A1A Beach Boulevard

4

Continue on FL 312

3.6 mi · 6 min · FL 312

5

Turn left onto FL 207

3.4 mi · 5 min · FL 207

Use the left lane.

6

Continue on FL 207

20 mi · 26 min · FL 207

Use the right lane.

7

Turn right onto US 17; FL 100

2.7 mi · 5 min · US 17; FL 100

8

Turn left onto FL 20

0.3 mi · 1 min · 9th Street

9

Continue on FL 20

43 mi · 1 hr · Crill Avenue

10

Continue on FL 20; FL 26

1.1 mi · 2 min · East University Avenue

Use the left lane.

11

Turn left onto CR 329

115 ft · 3 sec · South Main Street

12

Arrive at destination

CR 329

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 37.5 miles from Saint Augustine Beach, FL, or about 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Augustine Beach, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Augustine Beach, FL

This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saint Augustine Beach, FL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Crill Avenue for about 42.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.5 mi from Saint Augustine Beach, FL · 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatka, FL

38 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Flagler Estates, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palatka, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Saint Augustine Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gainesville, FL

The final approach into Gainesville, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Café Eleven Restaurant & Catering

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

St. Augustine, Florida

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7:30 am–8 pm

+19044609311

Visit website

Sunday

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St. Augustine, Florida

2.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gainesville, Florida

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 75

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13522449942

Visit website

Cafe THCA

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gainesville, Florida

0.3 mi

Brew & Root Kava Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gainesville, Florida

0.4 mi

Café Eleven Restaurant & Catering

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–8 pm

+19044609311

Visit website

Sunday

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 5.4

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 8:30 am–3 pm

+19044818825

Visit website

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 75

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13522449942

Visit website

Cafe THCA

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+13522348090

Visit website

Brew & Root Kava Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 75

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+13527741308

Visit website

Hastings Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 21.4

Hastings, Florida

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+19046925910

Visit website

lowbar coffee + skateboarding

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 75

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 32.2

Palatka, Florida

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Villa Zorayda Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 5.4

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19048299887

Visit website

St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 5.4

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19048191444

Visit website

Black Raven Pirate Ship

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 5.4

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+19048260000

Visit website

Historic St Augustine

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 5.4

St. Augustine, Florida

Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

National Monument

Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour $15 near mile 2.6

View on nps.gov

Fort Matanzas National Monument

National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.25 one way

$24.50 round trip

$4.15/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$13.57	$27.14
premium	$4.90	$14.46	$28.91
diesel	$4.35	$12.84	$25.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.5	$7.87	$3.60
Efficient EV	18.8	$6.56	$3.00
EV Truck/SUV	30	$10.50	$4.80

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Saint Augustine Beach, FL

Late night in Saint Augustine Beach on Saturday

Local time

5:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gainesville, FL

Late night in Gainesville on Saturday

Local time

5:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

19 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 52m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Crill Avenue, FL 207, FL 312. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 37.5 miles from Saint Augustine Beach, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (A1A Beach Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (A1A Beach Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.3 miles (FL 207): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Fort Matanzas National Monument.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Saint Augustine Beach, FL or browse trips ending in Gainesville, FL.

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Trip from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Gainesville, FL

Nearby Places

Café Eleven Restaurant & Catering

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

Café Eleven Restaurant & Catering

Sunday

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

Cafe THCA

Brew & Root Kava Cafe

Hastings Coffee Co

lowbar coffee + skateboarding

Daydreamer Cafe

Pascal's Coffeehouse

Coffee Culture

EVmatch Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Depot Park

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

Boathouse Riverfront Park

Project P.L.A.Y. Park

Villa Zorayda Museum

St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

Black Raven Pirate Ship

Historic St Augustine

National Parks Near This Route

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saint Augustine Beach, FL

Gainesville, FL

Same local time

19 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 52m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL?

Are there national parks near the route from Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL?

How this page is built

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